----------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Sat, 24 Jun 1995 16:57:04 -0400 (EDT)
From: terry kroetsch f <tkroetsc@mach1.wlu.ca>
Subject: Re: Sting and XTC
I know they toured with them at some point. Was that in America/Canada?
Does anyone know if they keep in contact? I also saw a crazy photo of
Andy doing something odd to Sting while on stage - does anyone knowwhat
that was all about? Thanks...
Terry (who believes no sig is the best sig and signals all lane changes)

------------------------------
From: AngryYngMn@aol.com
Date: Mon, 26 Jun 1995 11:29:50 -0400
Subject: Phoenix!
Back to the next album title thread, I must admit I was thinking of "wisdom
Hotline" when I made my list...however "Wisdom Hotline" sounds cheezy.
"Wisdom" is kinda classy if not egotistical on the part of the fab three.
(oops, no gratuitous Beatles references, I'm sorry)
Now that people have all noticed my boo-boo on last or previous
Chalkhills...let's think of lines/phrases from other than the last song on
Nonfvch.
"Civilization" <- Smartest Monkeys
"Green Skinned Girl" <- Omnibus (naaaah)
"Permanent Morgasm" <- That Wave (I don't take credit for that, but good
call to the Chalkhillbillie that first mentioned it!)
"Phrygian Cap", "Cherubim Cheered", "Hookah!" <- Then She Appeared
"Patriotic Romance" <- War Dance
"Awaken You Dreamers" <- Wrapped In Grey
Sounds good?
As I read thru the cd lyric book and pass Bungalow, I am reminded of a few
weeks back when someone called it "Bungle-O" and I'm remembering ROTFL at it.
I have to tell my friend Jen. She'd probably die at that reference too. :)
-AYM

------------------------------
From: "Bill Moxim" <BMOXIM@epi.soph.uab.edu>
Organization: Univ. of Alabama at Birmingham
Date: Mon, 26 Jun 1995 10:54:49 -600
Subject: Re: Ella Guru
In response to the post about XTC's "Ella Guru" and where to find it:
"Ella Guru" was on the first release of 'new' material from the upcoming
'Oranges & Lemons' album. It's a 12" single called "Mayor Of Simpleton"
on Geffen 0-21160 (c)1989, released in mid-February 1989.
It contains five tracks, one of them "Ella Guru", two Lp tracks and two
other demo tracks. "Ella Guru" is quite an exceptional job. The first
time I heard it (my roommate at the time purchased and played it) I said
"I thought you were putting on the new XTC?". I was thoroughly amazed
(that they eved DID a cover!) and impressed (at how exact it was!).
I eventually took the Beefheart version and the XTC version and played
them side by side. It's damned near EXACT! I would almost venture to say
it's simply the Beefheart track with new dubbed in XTCisms... and I still
ponder that idea now and then(!), but there are distinct differences in
the guitar and vocals - but SHEESH! Unbelievable...
I don't know off-hand where else it may have been released. Perhaps on
the Beefheart tribute album you mentioned (I wasn't aware of one!) as well.
I'm sure I've spotted it elsewhere - but it was DEFINATELY on that single.
It's a vivid memory...
Bill
__ __ _ ___ .......................................
|| || // \\ || \\ : Bill Moxim - Dept. of Epidemiology :
|| || ||===|| ||==<< : Programmer/SOPH-BEV Administrator :
\__// || || ||__// : ----- bmoxim@epi.soph.uab.edu ----- :
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - '

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Date: Mon, 26 Jun 95 12:58:16 EDT
From: Ayanna Gaines <AYANNA@BROWNVM.BROWN.EDU>
Subject: potential flamebait here
a question that occured to me whilst listening to tones on tail:
is their song "this is the pops" a cover of xtc's song of similar title?
having never heard the xtc song (shock!! chagrin!!), i'm not sure
whether to be amused at the thought of cute goth brits singing a song
written by cute non-goth brits. of course, the thought of tones on tails
singing pop is amusing in and of itself.
flamewars, take me away . . . (a calgon reference, for those of y'all
without the benefit of amusing bathbubble commercials)
- ayanna

------------------------------
Date: Mon, 26 Jun 1995 10:11:00 -0700 (PDT)
From: Eric Muller <EMuller@UWYO.EDU>
Subject: (All too) Respectable Street
All of the talk about Respectable Street in the most recent Digest prompts
me to ask the following: was anyone else moritified by the version of
Respectable Street that appears on "Rag and Bone Buffet?" I simply can't
believe that the boys allowed themselves to be talked into watering down the
lyrics so pathetically for release as a single.
Eric

------------------------------
Date: Mon, 26 Jun 1995 12:02:03 -0700
From: vertigo@well.com (Giancarlo Cairella)
Subject: "Miniatures" reissue? Where? When?
>The _Miniatures_ compilation has appeared on these shores. The
>reissued CD features Andy Partridge's "The History of Rock 'n' Roll",
>a redone booklet, art by Ralph Steadman, and two new tracks. The
>second of these is a second or two from every track on the album in
>order. A sampler in miniature, if you will.
Does anyone have more details on this (label, release date)? The
"Miniatures" album is one of my favorites and I'd kill to have a copy on CD...
Thanx.
G.C.
--
Giancarlo Cairella, L'Agora' Srl (Milano, Italy)
Web Home Page: <http://www.well.com/user/vertigo>
"Wenn ist das Nunstuck git und Slotermeyer?
Ja! Beiherhund das Oder die Flipperwaldt gersput!"
(Monty Python)

------------------------------
Date: 26 Jun 1995 15:13:27 -0400
From: "Russell Shaddox" <Russell.Shaddox@QuickMail.Yale.edu>
Subject: Barry's trouser trout
In response to a post from 7IHd <ee92pmh@brunel.ac.uk>:
Barry was pretty upset because apparently (the press) completely
misunderstood (My Weapon), which was meant to be a pro-feminist anti-macho
song.
seanbe@microsoft.com wrote in CH450:
>> the trouble is that for critics/listeners who don't have a sense of satire,
it's impossible to differentiate between confession and dramatic monlogue.
I think the trouble in this case has nothing to do with critics or
listeners. It's not incumbent on the listener to figure out that a poor
songwriter is being tongue-in-cheek. That's not so say that a listener
can't lack the cultural equipment to understand satire, or even be too
obtuse to understand. Happens all the time. But I don't think "My Weapon"
is clearly written as satire. I know several people who are turned off by
this song's "sexism," including myself. And if I'm going to blame anyone
for that, it's going to be Barry's crappy songwriting!
seanbe@microsoft.com also wrote:
>>as a writer i have to say that if you put utterly personal images
such as this into your work you must be prepared for people to either
misinterpret or totally not understand your meaning.
Couldn't agree more. Before I know more about Andy's family life, the only
way I'd been able to interpret "Holly Up on Poppy" is the carousel horse
used to illustrate the song on the back of the CD cover. (I have a promo
copy, so it may be different on the regular release). That and the
"beautiful girls" reference made me figure this was about Andy's daughter
or niece riding a carousel horse (because of the "carousel" sound of the
organ). But if I hadn't seen that illustration, I wouldn't have a clue what
this song was about. (Great tune, though.)
And to add to the long, tangled thread about XTC and drugs, I understand
that one of the major bones of contention between Andy and Todd R during
"Skylarking" was that Todd was constantly lighting up non-stop prodigious
doobies. Andy doesn't seem particularly enamored of drug culture, except of
course for the aesthetic end of psychedelia.
Oh yeah, just to mention ... I like the Beatles, and the Offspring, and the
Grateful Dead, and lots of other folks. Good music is good music. Also, if
XTC played one live song, I'd want it to be "Travels in Nihilon." I don't
think I'd ever forget it, or regret it.
Russell Shaddox

------------------------------
From: Algae99@aol.com
Date: Mon, 26 Jun 1995 16:52:01 -0400
Subject: Re: XTC does Beefheart
Found about this place on Saturday. What a wonderful world we live in.
The album you are looking for is "Fast & Bulbous". It is a line that shows
up frequently on Trout Mask Replica. XTC does do "Ella Guru", almost note
for note. Somebody's voice was altered to sound like the Captain. The song
is also available on the 12" or CD single version for "Mayor of Simpleton",
which also contains 2 excellent demos. Highly recommended, but rare.

------------------------------
From: Algae99@aol.com
Date: Mon, 26 Jun 1995 18:14:44 -0400
Subject: One song and other musings
If one song were to be played by XTC in my backyard, it would be "Travels in
Nihilon". It isn't my favourite song by XTC, but it is loud and hard and
they could jam for about 4 hours on it. The "Book of Rock and Roll Lists"
from around 1980 had XTC as one of the 10 loudest live bands in the world.
Go figure. In XTC: The Movie, Robin Williams, with haircut and glasses,
could play Andy, Keanu Reeves could play Colin, and Jeff Daniels could be
Dave. A fine album to find is "The Greatesr Living Englishman", by Martin
Newell and Andy. I do not know if this is widely known, as I am new to this.
Cross between Mummer and the Dukes. Highly Recommended.

------------------------------
Date: Mon, 26 Jun 1995 21:25:08 -0400 (EDT)
From: "Jennifer L. Geese" <jlg@tardis.svsu.edu>
Subject: Re: Next Album Title
I apologize if this has already been pointed out (I'm behind on my
reading).
AngryYngMn gave his ideas about the next title, and, while I like the
reasons and titles, I couldn't help but point out that it is not
"Sacrificial Bonfire" that starts with "Orange and lemon.." but "Ballet
for a Rainy Day", which is approximately in the middle of the album, not
at the end.

------------------------------
Date: Tue, 27 Jun 1995 14:43:13 +1000
From: jenny@next.com.au (Eliot Fish)
Subject: The greatest band in the world!
Hip-hooray for Chalkhills!
Being a subscriber to The Little Express (I haven't received a copy since
1994 sometime...), I was more than chuffed to discover Chalkhills! So
here's my first posting.
Just to get my answer to the 1-song only hometown appearance question out
of the way...."I Bought Myself A Liarbird" would have to be my pick. That
guitar playing just kills me! As for the XTC-Movie...(haha)...well, it
would have to be Michael Palin (of Monty Python fame) as Dave Gregory for
starters! I'll think carefully about the others.
SO, when is the release date for the new record going to be? Last I heard,
XTC were still wringing the necks of some very dim-witted record-company
fools. Though Partridge hinted that it would definitely be more
"orchestral" maybe even featuring a Dave Gregory-only penned piece. Andy
was miffed that Elvis Costello had done the orchestral-pop thing first
(with the marvellous Juliet Letters). But to keep us going here in Sydney,
Australia, there are many pirate CDs surfacing which feature the albums and
all the demos for most of the songs on each LP. For instance the Nonsuch CD
features "It's Raining Angels" etc. etc.
Trivia: I remember reading awhile ago that Neil Finn of Crowded House
listed XTC as one of his major influences. You can hear it too...check out
"In My Command" on Together Alone.
About the tribute CD...I heard They Might Be Giants on the radio, and they
mentioned that they had recorded "25 O'Clock"!! They then played the TMBG's
version, which was overly cheesy. However, I look forward to the tribute
album! Let's hope Crash Test Dummies don't do another cock-up of a good
song. Their Peter Pumpkinhead was truly heartless. I'd love to hear someone
do a cover of "No Thugs In Our House" - maybe Foo Fighters!
Bye for now! It's nice to know there are other XTC lovers with access to
the Net. Eliot Fish.

------------------------------
From: LongPlay22@aol.com
Date: Tue, 27 Jun 1995 02:22:53 -0400
Subject: "Greatest Living Englishman" vinyl
Hello to Jangly and Chalkhills...
Next month, (July) Jarmusic in Germany will be releasing a limited vinyl
edition of Martin Newell & Andy Partridge's _The Greatest Living Englishman_
album. According to a letter I got today, it will be limited to 1000 copies
with an option of repressing another 1000 within 4 weeks. All copies will
have a gatefold sleeve and a 4-page lyric/info sheet, and the first 250
(de-luxe version) will be pressed on special 220 gramm vinyl with an original
M. Newell b/w photograph.
I'm going to bring a few copies into the U.S., both for myself and to make
available through Long Play mailorder. I don't know yet how much they will
cost, but it will be expensive - probably about $18. Because of that, and
because there aren't that many copies anyway, I won't be able to get very
many, so e-mail me ASAP if you want me to get you a copy too.
In other Martin Newell news... he will be doing some shows in Germany in July
to support this release - Dave Gregory will be playing guitar. Martin is also
working on a new book, and will be somone's dad by late November.
That's all for now!
Steve Pilon/Long Play Records * LongPlay22@aol.com
http://monsterbit.com

------------------------------
From: ZITTEL@aol.com
Date: Tue, 27 Jun 1995 08:55:14 -0400
Subject: Aimee Mann
Just discovered someone with a tape of the show that Aimee Mann did where
Andy jumps up on stage on does a song with her. Dave plays guitar. I am in
the process of getting the tape and will post details when I get it.
Also just talked with a XTC collecting friend (who might soon be on
Chalkhills) that has located a person with a demo tape of new Andy songs. Let
you know when I get a copy....

------------------------------
Date: Tue, 27 Jun 1995 12:31:47 -0500 (CDT)
From: James Kosmicki <gkosmicj@cccins.gi.cccneb.edu>
Subject: different lyrics
I can't remember where or when, but I remember reading once that almost
all lyric sheets have slightly different lyrics than what is sung,
primarily for copyright reasons. Apparently, people were publishing
lyrics without paying the appropriate fees, and by slightly changing the
lyrics, the record companies were able to more easily identify those
publishers who were not going through proper channels to obtain the lyrics.
Before I read this, I had just assumed that the lyric sheet contained the
original "draft" and what was actually recorded sometimes varied because
of the organic nature of recording.
Actually, either theory works for me.

------------------------------
From: AMANION@rex.mnsmc.edu
Date: Tue, 27 Jun 1995 15:21:05 GMT-6
Subject: casting calls, one song?
Howdy,
First, a confession...I was too harsh on the Grateful Dead. I apologize.
Their concerts are unlike anything else on earth.
Second, casting an XTC film? Easy...
Sir John Geilgud as Andy Partridge
"The artist formerly known as Prince" as Dave Gregory
and (of course) Bryant Gumbel as Colin Moulding.
with either Woody Allen or Merryl Streep as Barry Andrews,
Dan Rather (did anyone catch him singing with REM the other
night on Letterman) as Terry Chambers
and Jerry Mathers as "the Beaver."
Third, one song live? I'll cheat... how about a military-industrial
medly consisting of Nigel, Sgt. Rock, Generals and Majors, No Thugs,
Mayor of Simpleton, President Kill and Peter Pumpkin Head.
That makes exactly $.02 worth of my opinion.
Merely,
Amanion
"Now it's over I'm dead and I haven't done anything that I want, or I'm
still alive and there's nothing I want to do." TMBG
PS - Check out that list of bands that appear with our boys in the
film "Urgh, A Music War." Is anyone still perplexed as to how someone
can be an XTC fan and a fan of punk music?

------------------------------
Date: Tue, 27 Jun 1995 18:33:02 -0700
From: Riches@Cyberstore.ca (Michael Riches)
Subject: Swap rare Brian Wilson for rare XTC
I have an offer to make to all of you with COLLECTABLE XTC MATERIAL.
I'm looking for Nonsuch demos (as frequently described in Chalkhills); Jules
Verne's Sketchbook; AP's "Hello" disc; other rare and bootleg material. Not
interested in concert recordings, but dying to hear any unreleased and
really obscure music. (Must admit to getting REALLY excited over hearing
about Colin's "Where Did All the Ordinary People Go?" and "It Didn't Hurt a
Bit." And I'm damn curious to hear "Young Cleopatra" and all the other
goodies floating about).
In return I can give you Brian Wilson's "Smile" tapes, if you're interested
in that stuff. I've got the tunes that were released on the box set, if you
don't have that. Plus I've got additional good-quality bootleg releases of
Smile material that surfaced in 1988, and some more stuff that was unearthed
last year.
Other Beach Boy related tapes I'll trade:
Brian's In-Studio Smile Party (1966, 20 min.); very bizarre & creepy
Help Me Rhonda Sessions (40 min); Brian and the boys get bossed around by
their drunk dad, Murry. Brian and Mur have an explosive fight at the end,
and dear ol' dad is bannished from the studio forever.
Sweet Insanity (50 min.); Brian's second solo album, rejected big-time by
Sire. He raps on this one.
Also have Sunflower & Adult Child out-takes, and tons of revealing radio
interviews circa '86.
If you're not into the Beach Boys, I have lots of unreleased Beatles (but
who doesn't these days), and demos The Smiths made before their first album.
One unreleased song, others are raw and rockier versions of songs from the
first album.
Any of this tickle anybody's fancy? I'd LOVE to get my hands on ANY XTC
rarities. You make me a tape, I'll make you a tape. Pick what you want.
Mail me at Riches@Cyberstore.ca
Thanks.
Michael Riches

------------------------------
Date: Wed, 28 Jun 95 12:15:59 GMT
From: jde@intera.co.uk (Jon Eva)
Subject: glastonbury
Hi y'all,
I've just come back from Glastonbury, here's a quote from the programme
(from a write up on the band "Dodgy"):
"... And it's the unswerving optimism of Mathew (sic) (drums),
Andy (guitar) and Nigel (vocals) which has steered Dodgy
through times when their air of positivity didn't fall on
quite such a receptive audience. (Which means that they
looked doomed to enter the kind of black hole which XTC
entered many years ago: everyone said they loved 'em,
no-one bought the records.) "
It's the "many years ago" which hurts.
I was wearing my bogus XTC 1995 tour tee-shirt on the Saturday, one I
made up myself with all the dates I would love them to play on the back -
Brixton (capacity 4272), the Mean Fiddler (capacity 600), the Fir Tree
Tavern (capacity 20) etc. Only one person asked if they had really started
touring again.
Jon Eva

------------------------------
Date: Thu, 29 Jun 1995 14:23:07 +1200
From: james.dignan@stonebow.otago.ac.nz (James)
Subject: XTC - the Movie
From: Todd Bernhardt <73364.1601@compuserve.com>
>I recently started subscribing to "Elephant Talk," the King Crimson
>newsletter, and they have a rather amusing thread going that I think could
>be a lot of fun here. It's called "Thrak: The Movie" involves people
>giving their casting suggestions for KC's latest album, Thrak (which is,
>by the way, extremely good). Some of the hilarious suggestions include
>Buck Henry as Robert Fripp and Brent "Data" Spiner as Adrian Belew.
Heh... it was me who first suggested Brent Spiner... glad it was
appreciated. How about Woody Harrelson as Andy??? :)
Agree with your comments about Thrak, BTW, and by all accounts Crimso's
current tour is storming!
James
James Dignan, Department of Psychology, University of Otago.
Ya zhivu v' 50 Norfolk St., St. Clair, Dunedin, New Zealand
pixelphone james.dignan@stonebow.otago.ac.nz / steam megaphone NZ 03-455-7807
* You talk to me as if from a distance
* and I reply with impressions chosen from another time, time, time,
* from another time (Brian Eno)

------------------------------
Subject: Re: Chalkhills Digest #450
From: DEAKIN01%bh.bbc@nr-comms.radio.bbc.co.uk (Nicolas Deakin)
Date: 28 Jun 95 23:04:31 EDT
Here's a few questions you might like to answer?
1. When and where were you the FIRST time you heard XTC?
2. What's your most listened to song by XTC.
3. What format do you listen to XTC on most? (i.e. CD, CC, LP, DCC, MD)
4. How popular are XTC in your country? (Please state your country)
5. What would you like XTC to do next?
6. What do you think XTC will be doing in the year 2005?
7. Is there anything you wish XTC had NOT done?
8. What makes XTC better than other pop groups?
9. What is your prime source for XTC information?
10.Have you ever visited Swindon, England?
[ Please send your answers directly to <Nicolas.Deakin@bbc.co.uk>
and Nicolas will collate and summarise the answers for a future
issue of Chalkhills. -- John ]